Living SingleThe truth about singles in our society.https://www.psychologytoday.com/us
en-US30Sat, 14 Sep 2019 19:26:48 -0400Sat, 14 Sep 2019 22:51:40 -0400The Growing Power of Single People, in 10 Important Trendshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201909/the-growing-power-single-people-in-10-important-trends
For Unmarried and Single Americans Week, 10 significant ways singles are making their mark. Only 1 was true a decade ago.FriendsHappinessMarriageSexSinglehoodSocial Lifehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201909/the-growing-power-single-people-in-10-important-trends#comments1133551 at http://psychologytoday.comSat, 14 Sep 2019 19:26:48 -0400Living SingleBella DePaulo Ph.D.Stereotypes as Death Sentences: Unmarried with Cancerhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201909/stereotypes-death-sentences-unmarried-cancer
Some doctors believe that if you don’t have a spouse, you don’t have anyone. Do they therefore recommend less effective treatments, putting their unmarried patients at risk?BiasDepressionHealthMarriageSinglehoodSocial Lifehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201909/stereotypes-death-sentences-unmarried-cancer#comments1133219 at http://psychologytoday.comThu, 05 Sep 2019 07:58:23 -0400Living SingleBella DePaulo Ph.D.How Your Family Gets Put Down If It Is Not the Valued Kindhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201909/how-your-family-gets-put-down-if-it-is-not-the-valued-kind
Members of families other than nuclear ones can be disadvantaged in unfair ways. Social scientists may unwittingly contribute to that.Family DynamicsMarriageParentingRace and EthnicitySinglehoodhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201909/how-your-family-gets-put-down-if-it-is-not-the-valued-kind#comments1133046 at http://psychologytoday.comSun, 01 Sep 2019 08:03:23 -0400Living SingleBella DePaulo Ph.D.One Is a Whole Number: 27 Years of Studying Single Lifehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201908/one-is-whole-number-27-years-studying-single-life
Ann Landers, Cathy cartoons, local papers, Newsweek, The New Yorker, and The New York Times: what they were saying about single people in the 1990s.MarriageMediaRelationshipsSinglehoodSocial Lifehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201908/one-is-whole-number-27-years-studying-single-life#comments1132746 at http://psychologytoday.comSat, 24 Aug 2019 07:22:49 -0400Living SingleBella DePaulo Ph.D.Around the World, Marriage Is Declining, Singles Are Risinghttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201908/around-the-world-marriage-is-declining-singles-are-rising
All around the world, the number of people staying single has been growing. People who do marry are getting to it later, and then divorcing in greater numbers than in 1990.DivorceGenderMarriageRelationshipsSinglehoodhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201908/around-the-world-marriage-is-declining-singles-are-rising#comments1132527 at http://psychologytoday.comSat, 17 Aug 2019 16:42:56 -0400Living SingleBella DePaulo Ph.D.Why Won’t These Single Women Talk About Their Lives?https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201908/why-won-t-these-single-women-talk-about-their-lives
In Romania, the number of single people, and people living alone, is growing. Adriana Savu wanted to interview single women; why were they so reluctant to talk about their lives?GenderMarriageRelationshipsSinglehoodSocial Lifehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201908/why-won-t-these-single-women-talk-about-their-lives#comments1132240 at http://psychologytoday.comSun, 11 Aug 2019 06:29:34 -0400Living SingleBella DePaulo Ph.D.Women Who Never Have Children: A 33-Year Studyhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201908/women-who-never-have-children-33-year-study
When women say they don’t want kids, do they end up not having any? A groundbreaking study answers many questions about the life paths of women who never have kids.Decision-MakingMarriageParentingRelationshipsSinglehoodhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201908/women-who-never-have-children-33-year-study#comments1131960 at http://psychologytoday.comSat, 03 Aug 2019 07:43:52 -0400Living SingleBella DePaulo Ph.D.Why Are You Single? Here Are Some of My Favorite Answershttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201907/why-are-you-single-here-are-some-my-favorite-answers
No one should ever put you on the defensive by asking why you are single. Here’s what you can say if they do. Choose from the flippant or the serious options.HumorMarriageRelationshipsSinglehoodSocial Lifehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201907/why-are-you-single-here-are-some-my-favorite-answers#comments1131685 at http://psychologytoday.comSat, 27 Jul 2019 18:17:06 -0400Living SingleBella DePaulo Ph.D.How to Be the Best Kind of Lonerhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201907/how-be-the-best-kind-loner
One way of thinking about loners is to ask whether people realize they are better off on their own, and if so, whether they are prepared to live authentically.ConfidenceHappinessMatingRelationshipsSelf-HelpSocial Lifehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201907/how-be-the-best-kind-loner#comments1131441 at http://psychologytoday.comMon, 22 Jul 2019 06:27:59 -0400Living SingleBella DePaulo Ph.D.Community of Single People: 3,433 Members from 100 Nationshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201907/community-single-people-3433-members-100-nations
For 4 years, the Community of Single People has been attracting people from around the world who want to discuss and celebrate single life, not escape it.FriendsRelationshipsResilienceSocial LifeSocial Networkinghttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201907/community-single-people-3433-members-100-nations#comments1131324 at http://psychologytoday.comThu, 18 Jul 2019 06:19:03 -0400Living SingleBella DePaulo Ph.D.The War Over Marriage Is Raging; Single People Are Winninghttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201907/the-war-over-marriage-is-raging-single-people-are-winning
At The Atlantic, Mandy Len Catron argued that marriage is not the social good we think it is. The National Review objected. Meanwhile, single people are thriving without marriage.InfidelityMarriageParentingRelationshipsSinglehoodhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201907/the-war-over-marriage-is-raging-single-people-are-winning#comments1131092 at http://psychologytoday.comThu, 11 Jul 2019 08:16:39 -0400Living SingleBella DePaulo Ph.D.Research Shows Life-Threatening Bias Against Single Peoplehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201907/research-shows-life-threatening-bias-against-single-people
In three studies in which married and unmarried patients were equally qualified for a transplant, medically, the married patients were more likely to be recommended.BiasCaregivingDivorceHealthMarriageSocial Lifehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201907/research-shows-life-threatening-bias-against-single-people#comments1130933 at http://psychologytoday.comSun, 07 Jul 2019 07:31:59 -0400Living SingleBella DePaulo Ph.D.Why I’m Closing Down the Comments Section of Living Singlehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201907/why-i-m-closing-down-the-comments-section-living-single
Comments posted to this blog have become too cruel. Before I have a chance to delete them, people read them and are hurt by them. I will miss the commenters who were constructive.Ethics and MoralityGenderMediaRace and EthnicityRelationshipshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201907/why-i-m-closing-down-the-comments-section-living-single#comments1130868 at http://psychologytoday.comThu, 04 Jul 2019 14:04:11 -0400Living SingleBella DePaulo Ph.D.The Friendship Files: An Inside Look at the Best of Friendshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201906/the-friendship-files-inside-look-the-best-friends
A new and ongoing series of stories about friendships shows us why this relationship is so significant.FriendsHappinessMediaRelationshipsSocial Lifehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201906/the-friendship-files-inside-look-the-best-friends#comments1130640 at http://psychologytoday.comSat, 29 Jun 2019 03:21:11 -0400Living SingleBella DePaulo Ph.D.Single Life in the 21st Century: A Guide to Owning Ithttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201906/single-life-in-the-21st-century-guide-owning-it
What it means to be single has changed dramatically. Surprisingly few writers are equal to the moment that is 21st century single life. Here are some top contenders.GenderMarriageParentingRelationshipsSinglehoodSocial Lifehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201906/single-life-in-the-21st-century-guide-owning-it#comments1130325 at http://psychologytoday.comSat, 22 Jun 2019 18:23:13 -0400Living SingleBella DePaulo Ph.D.Single Moms: Less Housework, More Leisure Than Married Momshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201906/single-moms-less-housework-more-leisure-married-moms
A study of 23,088 mothers found that married mothers get less sleep, spend less time on leisure, and do more housework than single mothers. Time spent on childcare was the same.DivorceGenderMarriageParentingSinglehoodhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201906/single-moms-less-housework-more-leisure-married-moms#comments1130068 at http://psychologytoday.comSun, 16 Jun 2019 16:32:42 -0400Living SingleBella DePaulo Ph.D.Married Mother Has a Different View of Singlism, Matrimaniahttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201906/married-mother-has-different-view-singlism-matrimania
A guest on a radio show—a married mother—said she didn’t think there was any stigma against single people. Was she right?BiasChild DevelopmentLaw and CrimeMarriageParentinghttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201906/married-mother-has-different-view-singlism-matrimania#comments1129754 at http://psychologytoday.comSun, 09 Jun 2019 07:07:54 -0400Living SingleBella DePaulo Ph.D.What Can Single People Learn from #MeToo?https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201906/what-can-single-people-learn-metoo
In “How Change Happens,” Cass Sunstein explains how social movements can come from out of nowhere. What would it take for single people to have their moment?BiasEthics and MoralityMediaMicroaggressionPoliticshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201906/what-can-single-people-learn-metoo#comments1129445 at http://psychologytoday.comSat, 01 Jun 2019 08:02:07 -0400Living SingleBella DePaulo Ph.D.Claims About the Benefits of Marriage: 1-Step Debunkinghttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201905/claims-about-the-benefits-marriage-1-step-debunking
Whenever you hear that currently married people are doing better than unmarried people, it's alright to be suspicious. Here are 4 reasons why.BiasHappinessHealthMarriageRelationshipshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201905/claims-about-the-benefits-marriage-1-step-debunking#comments1129119 at http://psychologytoday.comFri, 24 May 2019 07:04:44 -0400Living SingleBella DePaulo Ph.D.The Social Lives of Single Peoplehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201905/the-social-lives-single-people
Single people have more friends and bigger social networks. They get more happiness and more emotional fulfillment from the time they spend with friends and relatives.FriendsHappinessMarriageMatingParentingRelationshipsSinglehoodSocial Lifehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201905/the-social-lives-single-people#comments1128901 at http://psychologytoday.comFri, 17 May 2019 18:55:02 -0400Living SingleBella DePaulo Ph.D.The Many (Many) Things People Lie to Therapists Abouthttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201905/the-many-many-things-people-lie-therapists-about
In a landmark set of studies, clients described the lies they told to their therapists and the topics they purposefully avoided discussing.DeceptionRelationshipsSexSuicideTherapyhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201905/the-many-many-things-people-lie-therapists-about#comments1128559 at http://psychologytoday.comThu, 09 May 2019 06:59:52 -0400Living SingleBella DePaulo Ph.D.Why Are Romantic Relationships Privileged Above Others?https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201905/why-are-romantic-relationships-privileged-above-others
Romantic relationships are recognized, respected, valued, celebrated, and rewarded more than other relationships. But should they be?FriendsMarriageRelationshipsSexSocial Lifehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201905/why-are-romantic-relationships-privileged-above-others#comments1128318 at http://psychologytoday.comThu, 02 May 2019 08:00:06 -0400Living SingleBella DePaulo Ph.D.The Many Faces of Family and Love: There Is No "Best" Onehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201904/the-many-faces-family-and-love-there-is-no-best-one
A new report makes a strong case for the many different ways to live and love. Here are the values and principles of justice for all.Child DevelopmentDivorceFamily DynamicsMarriageParentingRelationshipshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201904/the-many-faces-family-and-love-there-is-no-best-one#comments1127968 at http://psychologytoday.comTue, 23 Apr 2019 07:23:20 -0400Living SingleBella DePaulo Ph.D.7 Kinds of Spinstershttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201904/7-kinds-spinsters
Think of the kinds of people you admire—people who make great friends, do good things, or live in ways you only wish you could. Many of them are spinsters.CaregivingFriendsRelationshipsSocial LifeWorkhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201904/7-kinds-spinsters#comments1127701 at http://psychologytoday.comMon, 15 Apr 2019 06:18:53 -0400Living SingleBella DePaulo Ph.D.How Life Turns Out for Lifelong Singleshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201904/how-life-turns-out-lifelong-singles
In later life, lifelong single people may find unmarried life less difficult than divorced or widowed people do. Black women may experience less strain than White women.AgingMarriageRace and EthnicityRelationshipsResiliencehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201904/how-life-turns-out-lifelong-singles#comments1127417 at http://psychologytoday.comSun, 07 Apr 2019 17:25:57 -0400Living SingleBella DePaulo Ph.D.What Makes Single People Happy?https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201904/what-makes-single-people-happy
The definitive guide to what makes single people happy, based on data from hundreds of thousands of people from more than 30 nations and decades of study.FriendsHappinessRelationshipsResilienceSocial LifeWorkhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201904/what-makes-single-people-happy#comments1127158 at http://psychologytoday.comMon, 01 Apr 2019 06:30:10 -0400Living SingleBella DePaulo Ph.D.Pining for Romance? People Who Aren't Are Doing Betterhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201903/pining-romance-people-who-arent-are-doing-better
Young adults who just aren’t interested in romantic relationships are less depressed and less lonely than those who really wish they were in a romantic relationship.DepressionHappinessLonelinessRelationshipsSocial Lifehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201903/pining-romance-people-who-arent-are-doing-better#comments1126799 at http://psychologytoday.comSat, 23 Mar 2019 07:04:38 -0400Living SingleBella DePaulo Ph.D.19 Ways Single People Are Doing Way Better Than You Realizedhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201903/19-ways-single-people-are-doing-way-better-you-realized
The book 'Happy Singlehood' documents what single people are doing right, and how they are getting more happiness out of their social lives and their values than married people areBiasCreativityHappinessOptimismRelationshipsReligionResilienceSinglehoodSocial LifeWorkhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201903/19-ways-single-people-are-doing-way-better-you-realized#comments1126537 at http://psychologytoday.comSat, 16 Mar 2019 17:20:24 -0400Living SingleBella DePaulo Ph.D.How Single People Are Shortchanged in the Health Care Systemhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201903/how-single-people-are-shortchanged-in-the-health-care-system
Antiquated assumptions about how we live now, together with singlist stereotyping and discrimination, can make it hard for singles to get adequate health care.BiasDivorceFriendsHealthMarriageParentingSocial Lifehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201903/how-single-people-are-shortchanged-in-the-health-care-system#comments1126189 at http://psychologytoday.comSun, 10 Mar 2019 16:50:39 -0400Living SingleBella DePaulo Ph.D.What Makes Your Life Meaningful and Fulfilling?https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201903/what-makes-your-life-meaningful-and-fulfilling
I didn’t realize it until recently, but for years the ways I talked about my own single life, and the relevant research, was influenced by prevailing narratives about marriage.FriendsHappinessHealthMarriageRelationshipsResilienceSinglehoodSocial Lifehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201903/what-makes-your-life-meaningful-and-fulfilling#comments1125867 at http://psychologytoday.comSun, 03 Mar 2019 18:56:53 -0500Living SingleBella DePaulo Ph.D.